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Paper Talk: Italy striker drops United hint; Reds eye Fener ace

Date published: Friday 11th March 2016 2:29

Mattia Destro has hinted at a summer move to Manchester United, Liverpool and Stoke will battle Inter Milan for Caner Erkin, while Antonio Conte is making transfer plans at Chelsea – including a swoop for a Sunderland flop, according to Friday’s papers.

DESTRO DROPS UNITED MOVE HINT

Italy striker Mattia Destro has admitted he would like to be reunited with Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, if his former Inter boss gets the Manchester United job.

The Italy striker, who has rediscovered his form at Bologna, has said he’d gladly work with the Portuguese boss if he’s unveiled at Old Trafford.

The striker struggled at Roma and on loan with Milan before finally finding his scoring boots on a regular basis at the Stadio Dall’Ara this season.

“Roberto Donadoni has given a strong identity to the team, we are doing well and trying to impose our style of football on the opposition,” Bologna forward Destro told Sky Sport Italia.

He was in the Inter youth academy at the start of his career, also working with Mourinho.

“Being able to train with champions and a coach like Mourinho really makes you mature and helps prepare you for the big step up to real football.”

United will be in the market for a new forward this summer and although Destro might not be top of their agenda, the striker has admitted he’d love to be reunited with Mourinho at Old Trafford.

When asked what he’d do if Mourinho called him to Manchester United next season?

“I’d like to find myself in that situation and at that point we’d see,” he teased.

LIVERPOOL MAKE ENQUIRY FOR FENERBAHCE DEFENDER

The agent of Fenerbahce defender Caner Erkin says there “have been enquiries from five or six teams” amid reported interest from Liverpool in recent days.

The left-back is out of contract at the end of the season and reports suggest he has come under the radar of Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.

Inter Milan are also keeping close tabs on the 27-year-old’s situation in Turkey and could be lining up a contract offer of their own.

But now Corriere dello Sport has reported that the Serie A side are wary of interest from the Premier League and it’s not just from Liverpool.

It has now been reported that Stoke City have joined the race for Erkin, and could be ready to snap him up on a free once his contract expires at the end of the season.

CONTE VOWS TO KEEP HAZARD – AND PLANS SHOCK SUNDERLAND SWOOP

Chelsea do not plan to sell Eden Hazard despite his poor season, and incoming boss Antonio Conte will do everything he can to keep the Belgian, according the Daily Telegraph.

The Guardian claims Conte has moved a step closer to the Chelsea job after talks over how many backroom staff he can bring to Stamford Bridge and has told to work with the current Chelsea squad on delivering a clear style of football.

Conte is understood to be keen to work with Hazard and return the Belgian to the level that saw him win last season’s Player of the Year award.

Real Madrid and PSG are both interested in Hazard, but Chelsea have already seen Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne blossom elsewhere and do not want to give up on their star man so quickly after handing him a new £200,000-a-week contract last February.

A host of players have been linked with the Blues already, but the report claims that Giaccherini is the player he wants as his first signing in West London.

Conte has a keen knowledge of Serie A, and Giaccherini is currently on loan at Bologna from the Black Cats.

The 30-year-old has scored six goals in 19 games this term, and his form has captured the imagination of Conte.

Able to play on the wing and as a central attacking midfielder, Giaccherini would be arriving at Chelsea in a position which is already well stocked, but clearly Conte has seen something from his kinsman to suggest he could be a star.

Simone Zaza of Juventus is also named in the report as being a target for Conte, with the boss hoping to bring a new striker to Chelsea in the summer.

AND THE REST

Jose Mourinho has revealed he will start work in a new job in July (The Sun)

Tottenham are looking to improve their bid for Anderlecht midfielder Youri Tielemans to beat the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea (Daily Star)

Barcelona say Manchester United and Tottenham target Marc Bartra can leave the club (The Sun)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed he turned down a Tottenham approach in 2012 because ‘everything became a bit weird’ (Daily Mail)